1.establish的基本意思是“建立”,指采取最初步骤或措施把需要建立的事物建立起来并持续存在,而不论具体步骤或措施,如建立学校,可指筹资、设计、规划、施工、延聘师资、招生及开课均可说成establish。
2.establish还可表示“使其就位”,指使其存在或使其固定、稳定不动,即“确立”。
3.establish用作及物动词,可接名词、代词或从句作宾语,也可接以as短语充当补足语的复合宾语,可用于被动结构。
4.establish接that-clause或wh-clause是非正式用法。前者意为“让人相信”,后者意为“弄清楚”。这种用法中, establish的主体通常是人。
5.establish作“定居立业”解时,不是用于被动结构,就是搭用反身代词。

establish in(v.+prep.)
使立足于 place or cause sb to settle firmly in
〔说明〕 establish in常用于被动结构。
▲establish sb/oneself in sth
The director tends to establish his relatives in the best jobs.主任总想安插他的亲戚干最好的工作。
He established his son in business.他使他的儿子立足于商界。
A new doctor has established himself in this street.一位新来的医生在这条街上开业了。
He has established himself in Beijing.他已定居在北京了。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
Miss Baker was established in the educational field.贝克小姐已在教育界安身立业。
How long did it take you to become established in the office?你用了多长时间才在这个办公室站住了脚?
Many teachers are now comfortably established in their new houses.许多教师现在都很舒适地住在他们的新房子里。

用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
Every possibility has been exploited to establish a number of schools.利用一切可能性建立了许多学校。
We have established diplomatic relations with many countries.我们已和许多国家建立了外交关系。
The company has established a new system for dealing with complaints.这家公司建立了处理意见的新制度。
They established themselves between the Danube and Greece.他们在多瑙河和希腊之间定居下来。
Newton conclusively established the law of gravity.牛顿确定了万有引力定律。
He succeeded in establishing a claim to the title.他成功地确立了对此权利的要求权。
We've established a rule in this club that everyone buys his own drinks.我们在这个俱乐部里制定了一条大家都要自己买饮料的规矩。
The university has established new rules and regulations.这所大学制定了新的规章。
He established his innocence by showing that he was in another city when the theft was committed.他以窃案发生时他在另一城市这个事实来证明自己是无罪的。
Only when he spoke off the cuff did he establish report with his audience.只有他即席致词时,他才能打动他的听众。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
Our university was established in 1948.我们的大学是在1948年创办的。
On January 1 diplomatic ties between the United States and China were at last established.1月1日中美终于建立了外交关系。
This tradition has long been established.这一传统早已建立起来了。
These idioms have long been established in the English language.这些惯用语早已在英语中形成了。
Her reputation is established among us.她的威望已在我们中间树立起来。
A new article of law has just been established.一条新的法令刚刚出台。
The theory is not yet scientifically established.这个理论尚未被科学证实。
▲S+～+that-clause
The police established that she was innocent.警察查明她是无罪的。
He has established over and over again that Mr. Lowden accepted a bribe.他再三确认洛登先生曾受贿。
▲S+～+wh-clause
It will be difficult to establish what has happened.很难让人相信发生了什么事。
Before taking the train he had to establish whether it went to Beijing.在乘车前他不得不弄清楚列车是否去北京。
用作宾补动词
▲S+～+n./pron.+as n.
He established himself as governor of the province.他受命当这个省的省长。
She established her fame as a film star.她使得自己的电影明星的声望为人所公认。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
Mr. X was established as governor of the province.X先生被任命为省主席。
She has been established as a qualified teacher.她已经被确认为是一个合格的教师。
其他
With these facts established, we can proceed to the next point.这些事实既已确立,我们可以进行下一项。

establish, build, construct, erect, found, set up
参见build条。

establish, fasten, fix, settle
参见fix条。

establish作“建立,设立”解是瞬间动词,不能和表示一段时间的状语连用。例如:
我们创办这所大学已经十年了。
误:We established the university for ten years.
正:We established the university ten years ago.
正:It has been/is ten years since we established the university.